Tiffany Hedrick says she honored to be the first female to win the Brett Markwood Award

LANCASTER − Fairfield County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Tiffany Hedrick is the first female to win the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Brett Markwood Award.

She will receive her award at the chamber's annual awards banquet at 6:30 p.m. on May 9 at Fisher Catholic High School.

"I am truly, truly blessed and honored to be the one that's representing our sheriff's office to begin with and being the first female to actually receive this award," Hedrick said.

The annual Markwood Award honors local first responders. It is named after Brett Markwood, a city police officer killed on duty in 1993 while chasing a robbery suspect on Lincoln Avenue.

Hedrick didn't know Markwood, but she does know his sister.

"Every time that we go to a memorial and every time we go to places that are representing the fallen officers, the Markwood family is always there," she said. "It's one of those bittersweet moments. I wish it had never happened to their family, but I'm very honored to accept this award."

Hedrick works in the sheriff's community response unit and is also a firearms instructor.

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"The community response unit is the public relations for Sheriff Alex Lape," she said. "So we go out and do his public relations. Which is fairs, festivals, parades. We go out and teach to the citizens of Fairfield County. We do civilian response to emergency situation training to businesses. We also do self-defense for young girls and all the way up to seniors."

Hedrick's unit also works with seniors to help them avoid scams, among other things.

Hedrick has worked for the sheriff's office since 1998.

"I always wanted to be in law enforcement even when I was a little girl," he said. "Everybody always has things that have happened in their personal life. There have been some situations that evolved when I was younger that drove me to wanting to protect and serve Fairfield County. That's why I've always stayed here. I love this county and I never wanted to venture outside of where my hometown (Lancaster) is."

Hedrick said a good law enforcement officer must be willing to listen and be compassionate and caring.

"When people call law enforcement they're in probably the worst situation in their life at that moment," she said. "You have to respond and be able to try to make their life better and try to help the situation. Law enforcement is the best job ever. But you have to be a special person to be able to do this job."

The chamber's trade show will precede the awards banquet and will run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Fisher Catholic.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter/X: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Tiffany Hedrick is the first female to win the Brett Markwood Award